Central idea: Social, political and environmental factors influenced and shaped the culture during the Middle Ages.
Enduring Understandings
Describe the ways that social, political and environmental factors influence a culture Identify the types of networks of individuals and groups which exist within a society Describe the roles and responsibilities that individuals and groups have in specific systems
life in the Middle Ages was different from life today because of social and political (social order; government, religion); historical (what came before and after) environmental influences.
Essential Questions* Why was it called the Middle Ages? The Dark Ages?
How and why was society organised then compared to how it is organised now?
How did the way different groups of people live then, compare to the way we live now?
What was the importance of the development of towns?
Content
The Middle Ages in Europe was from about 500-1500AD
The gradual collapse of the Roman Empire preceded the Middle Ages
People had particular roles to play in a Feudal System; the roles were nobles, knights, clergy, craftspeople, merchants, minstrels, peasants in a hierarchical order
The peasant farmers were the largest majority of people.
The nobility and clergy held a great deal of power over peoples’ lives and loyalty and service were expected/enforced
People relied on the nobility to protect them.
The Roman Catholic Church also very powerful and all people had to pay taxes/crops to the church and .
Churches and cathedrals were built for protection and worship
Most people lived difficult lives filled with hard work and limited hope for change.
Towns developed to increased trade between merchants of different lands. Craft guilds developed. Both led to a change of the existing Feudal System and gave people more opportunities.
Taxes are still expected and laws are enforced in today’s society. Today there is more opportunity for social advancement, especially due to educational opportunities.
Central idea:
Social, political and environmental factors influenced and shaped the culture during the Middle Ages.
Describe the ways that social, political and environmental factors influence a culture
Identify the types of networks of individuals and groups which exist within a society
Describe the roles and responsibilities that individuals and groups have in specific systems
General Medieval Sites and Sites with Many Links:
Use the ISL Library Catalogue to find Books about the Middle Ages